Power of Metal.dk Review

Cro-Mags

Near Death
Experience

Rating

Style:

Hardcore

Release date:

25 May 2015 (re-issue)

Playing time:

35:41

The line
between “Hardcore” and “Metalcore” is often very blurry and justifies a little
explanation as to how the term is used here. Simply imagine a Punk Rock band
that throws in a lot of Heavy Metal elements into their music. The Punk Rock
element is still dominant, but the Metal part is very strong which leads to a
mixture which *I* prefer to call “Hardcore” and for which the Cro-Mags are
absolutely representative.

“Near Death
Experience” leans a bit more towards Heavy Metal though which many Old School
Hardcore fans probably find to be a bit of a letdown. Especially the 3rd
song “War on the Streets” could easily have been released by many ‘real’ Heavy
Metal bands. But then, so what? That is something that Punk Rock fans might
complain about, but I see no reason why this should bother a Metal fan.
Especially fans of rougher Heavy Metal might want to give the album a try due to
its roughness, dirty attitude, and raw energy. In fact one can easily imagine
how a song like “Kali-Yuga” can get a mosh pit started in no time while the
Cro-Mags bath in their own sweat on stage! Even calmer and slower songs like
“Near Death Experience” are still pretty intense and while they are likely to
give both the band and the fans a chance to slow down a bit, they do not exactly
offer a real break. So yes, if you happen to be into extreme Metal then you
might really want to give this album a try. It is worth it!

Tracklist

01. Say Goodbye To Mother Earth
02. Kali-Yuga
03. War On The Streets
04. Death In The Womb
05. Time I Am
06. Reflections
07. Near Death Experiences
08. The Other Side Of
Madness